Automatic ignition-cttt-oet control fob engine idling



June 24, 1930. R. E. WING 1,768,390

AUTOMATIC IGNITION CUT OFF CONTROL FOR ENGINE IDLING Filed March 5, 1929 /'2 J 7 v3 4 29 M v 8 30 23 20 9 by j n: I ]F jg 7 I 22 32 3 YY\ \m o I W 2 El l i; k 6 INVENTOR i //2 27/077 I ATTORNEYS 30 great length of time these fatalities can be ciprocating in the dash pot 10 and having Patented June 24, 1930 I I i I i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I I noY n WINGi or Brennan]: PARK, amaican I I nuronmrro IGNITION-CUFE-OFF common non ENGINE I IDLING Application filed March 5, 1929. Serial No. 344,455. r

This invention relates generally to means tral' after the vehicle itself has been brought for controlling the supply of fuel such as to a standstill. One embodiment of my ingasoline to internal combustion engines of vention is illustrated in the accompanying motor vehicles and consists of certain novel, drawings, in which 5 features of construction, combinations and Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a 55 arrangements of parts that will be hereinmotor vehicle with a safety device embodyafter more fully described and particularly ing my invention applied thereto; pointed out in, the appended claims. Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sec In the past many fatalities have been tional view of the safety device.

caused from persons being overcome by car Referring now to the drawings,1 is the 60 bon monoxide gas delivered from' the exdash, 2 isthe flooring, and 3 is the toe-board hausts of motor vehicles. A research into riser of a vehicle body. 4 is an internal the causes of such fatalities has disclosed combustion engine in advance of the dash 1 that'many if not all of them have occurred and having suitable conductors 5 that electhrough the ocupants of the garage or motor trically connect the distributor and ignition 65 vehicle as the case may be, being overcome switch (not shown) of the engine, 6 is the and rendered semiunconscious from the esusual transmission or gearshift lever adcaping gases and thereby unable while in justably mounted in a bracket 7 on the floorthis partially paralyzed condition to cut off i g 2, and 8 is='a starter pedal pivotally the motor that was producing the deadly gas. mounted on the toe-board riser 3.

Carbon monoxide, being odorless is im- In the present instance I have provided a possible to detect through the natural senses mechanism operable by the transmission leof the human body and, it is also a recogver 6 and starter pedal 8 to control the elecnized fact that it may be present in suflitrioal, connection between the distributor oient quantity to partially paralyze'the moand spark plugs of the engine and thereby 75 'tive functions of the body without necessacontrol the operation of the engine. As rily being present in enough volume to shown, 10 'is the dash pot'secured toa lateral cause fatal results. However, if the gas is flange 11 of the engine block and containing not allowed to continue to generate for any a suitable fluid such as oil, 12 is a piston re-' minimized. In fact, fatal accidents have holes or openings 13 therein to permit oil occurred to occupants of motor vehicles who' in the dash pot to flow through the piston have been overcome while parkedwith the' when it is on the down stroke, 14is a recipmotor running, examples of these being in 'rocating stem or rod rigid with the piston 12' the daily newspapers, and in most instances and extending upwardly through a remova 85 these could have been prevented if the motor ble cover 15 of the dash pot, and 16 is an im-. had not continued 0 operate while the gearpBIf r B fOHOWGI' slidable. 011 the Stem 1 shift lever was iy I eutral position until the between a lug 17 and the piston 12 and engine stopped through the depletion of the adapted 61058 h p nlngs 1 1I1 the pisga supply from the main gas tank. ton on the up stroke thereof. 18 1s a coil Thus it will be seen from theabove ex- Spring in, the dash pot between the bottom planation that there is a dangerous defithereof and the p1st0nl2 and normally riency in the present automobile construeholds the piston '12 a11 d stem 14 in raised tion and it is of such a serious nature that p l L 19 a d l' g Wlt the Stem 14 steps should be taken toovercome as far as at the upper end thereof andhaving a possible these preventable accidents, pointed upper end 20, 21 is a reciprocating My invention therefore is basedion the block having a flat lower face 22 and having theory .that the engines of motor vehicles an inverted substantially V-shap ed groove should not bepermitted to operate or. idle 23 extending transversely of said lower face 50 indefinitely with the gearshift lever'in new and adapted to receive the pointed uppen 'v tion, theparts just end 20 of the head 19 when the piston 12 is y in raised position. 24 is a substantially U- shaped bracket secured to the dash 1 and constituting a support for the reciprocating block 21, 25 is a collar rigidly mounted on the stem 14 intermediate of its ends, and 26 is a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends on the engine block and having its rear end engaging the lower face of the collar 25. 27

is a box rigidly mounted on the engine block and containing an electrical switch of suit minally connected to the block 21 and gearshift lever 6 and adapted to be moved by the latter for reciprocating the block, 31 is a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the engine block and having its lower end engaging the upper face of-the collar 25 on the stem 14, and. 32 is a link terminally connected to the upper end of the lever 31 and to the lower end of the starter .pedal 8v and adapted when the pedal is depressed to cause the lever 31 to depress the stem 14 and piston 12 and thereby cause thelever 26 through engagement with the arm28 to close the switch and establish an electrical connection between the ignition switch and primary interrupter to enable the engine to operate as usual.

In use, when the lever 6 is in neutral position shown in Figure 1 and the switch in the box 27 is held in open "position so that the supply of electrical current from the ignition switch to the primary interrupter is cut off and the engine is accordingly rendered inoperative. When the lever 6 is moved to any of the positions of second, reverse, or high,.etc., the block 21 is reciprocated bythe rod 30 so that the pointed upper end '20 of the head 19 is cammed downwardly out of the groove 23. This causes the stem 14 and piston 12 to be depressed in the dash pot 10 and causes the lever 26 to be rocked about its pivot by the collar 25 to raise the rear free end of the arm 28 and thereby cause the switch to be closed to establish an elec-- trical connection from the ignition switch to the primary interrupter of the engine and permit the usual operation of the engine. In this connection itwill be noted that on the down stroke of the piston'12 the spring 18 is compressed and the follower 16 will uncover the openings 13 in the piston and escribed are in the posi will allow the oil in the dash pot to flow freely through these openings. Then when the lever 6 is returned to neutral position the block 21 will be moved longitudinally so that the groove 23 therein will be in vertical alignment with the liead 19, thus allowing the stem 14 and piston 12 to move upwardly and enabling the spring 29 to lower the arm 28 and open'the switch in the box 27. Ac-

cordin ly the supply of electrical current from the 1gn1t1on switch to the primary interrupter is cut off and the engine becomes In this connection it will be the up stroke of the piston is inoperative. noted that much slower than the down stroke since the follower 16 on the up stroke closes the openings 13. Thus, the oil in the dash pot can not flow through the piston but instead resiststhe upward movement of the piston in the said dash pot. Moreover, the period of time in which the switch can be so cut off may be readily determined and regulated by fixing the tension of the spring 18. This is also true of the down stroke of the piston,

however, the area of the openings 13 also is a factor in determining the period of time in which the piston may complete its down stroke. Furthermore, the down stroke of the piston may be effected by any movement of the lever 6 from neutral position, since movement of the rod 30 by the lever 6 will causethe block 21 to slide either forwardly or rearwardly and in doing so will depress or cam downwardly the head 19 from the groove 20 and thereby cause the stemg14 and 00 piston 12 to move downwardly.

It will also be noted that the provision of the lever 31 and link 32 forming an operating connection between the starter pedal 8 and the piston stem 14 enables the switch in the box 27 to be readily closed by the depression of the starter pedal 8 in the event the motor vehicle would of necessity, for

example onaccount of stop lights, trafiic and be required to remain motionless the like, for a greater period of time than that in which the safety device would function to cut off the supply of electrical current to the spark plugs. In other words, with my construction, operative in such an instance it might be made operative quickly by depressing the starter 8 to cause the switch to close the cir-' 'cuit and establish an electrical connection between the distributor and spark plugs and permit the usual operation of the engine. This .means prevents confusion on the part of the'operator, particularly if he is an -inexperienced operator or not familiar with the operation of the safety device and also obviates service cost. It is the natural tendency .of the driver when an engine goes dead to press upon the starter, however, I have devised the connection comprising the lever 31 and link 32 between the starter 8 1 if the engine isrendered in- 115 v mobiles.

- be resorted to when desired .as fall within v including a plvotally mount-ed part. g.

if not entirely eliminate accidental death from carbon monoxide-or other deadly gases generated by internal combustion engines of motor vehicles. It will prevent an operator from leaving the engine of the vehicle running for any great length of time after the operator has left the vehicle, and this aside from the dangers of asphyxiation will tend to reduce accidents with children tampering with parts of the vehicles. It will also reduce gasoline consumption now wasted by many drivers of motor vehicles, particularly delivery trucks, who are inclined to let the "engines of their vehicles run from starting time in the morning to quitting time at night. It will also reduce fire risk in auto- ,While it is believed that from the foregoing description .the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. In a motor vehicle, the combination with an internal .combustion engine having electrical conductors for conveying electrical currents from an ignition switch to the primary interrupter, a gear-shift lever and a starter pedal, of an electrical switch or com trolling the passage of electrical currents through said conductors, means operable when said lever is in a predetermined position to open said last mentioned switch, and means operable by said starter pedal to close said switch.

.2. In a motor vehicle, the combination with an internal combustion engine having electrical conductors for conveying electrical currents from an ignition switch to. the.pr1-' mary interrupter, a gearshift lever, and a .starter pedal, of an'electrical switch-controlling the passage of electrical currents through said conductor, means associated wlth said lever for closing sa d last men tioned swltch when sald lever is in an operating position. such as high, low, reverse,

etc.,,means for opening said switch when said lever is in neutral position, and means operable by said starter pedal for again closing said switch after it has been opened by the second ,mentioned means.

-of an electrical switch controlling the pas- 1 3. 11; a motor vehicle, the combination with an internal combustion engine having electrical conductors for conveying electrical currents from an ignition switch to the primary' interrupter, a gearshift lever, and a starter pedal,- of an electrical switch control-- ling the passage of electrical currents through said conductors, means associated with said lever. for closing said last mentioned switch when said lever is in an operating position such as high, low, reverse, etc., means for closing said switch including a reciprocating part, means for retarding the movement of said reciprocating part when moved in one direction, and actuating means for saidreciprocating part including connections with said lever and pedal respectively. I

4. In a motor vehicle, the combination with an internal combustion engine having electrical conductors for conveying electri cal currents from an ignition switch to the primary interrupter, a gearshift lever, and a starter pedal, of an electrical switch controlling the passage of electrical currents through said conductors, means associated with said lever for closing said last mentioned switch when said lever is in an operating position such as high, low, reverse, etc., means for closing said switch including; a reciprocating part, an operating connection between said part and lever including asecimd reciprocating part, and an operattrolling the passage of electrical current through said conductors, and actuating means for said last mentioned switch including adjustable means connected to said lever and operable when said lever is in a neutral position to'open the last mentioned switch.

6. In a motor vehicle, the combination with an internal combustion engine having electrical conductors for transferring electrical currents from an ignition switch to a primary interrupter, and a gear shift lever,

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sage of electrical current through said conductors, and actuating means for said last mentioned switch connected to said lever to be actuated thereby, and including means operable automatically when said lever is i a predetermined "position to open -the said last mentioned switch. I

7. In a motor vehicle, the combination with an internal combustion engine having electrical conductors for transferring elec :m

- primary interrupter,

trical currents from an ignition primary interrupter,

' means associated with mentioned switch means for controlling switch to a and a gear shift lever, of an electrical switch controlling the passage of electrical current through said conductors, and actuating means for said last mentioned switch including means connected to and operable by said lever when the latter is in any position other than neutral for closing said last mentioned" switch, and said last mentioned means for rendering thesaid last mentioned means inoperative and opemng said last.

mentioned switch when said lever is in neutral position.

8. In a motor vehicle, the combination with an internal combustion engine having electrical conductors for transferring electrical currents from an ignition switchto a primary interrupter, and a gear shift lever,

of an electrical switch controlling the passage of electrical current through said conductors, and means for controlling said last including a pivotally mounted part for actuating said switch, a reciprocating part for actuating said pivotally mounted part, and means connected to and operable by said lever for actuating said reciprocating part. 9. In a motor vehicle, the combination with an internal combustion enginehaving electrical conductors for transferring electrical currents from an lgnition switch to a 7 primary interrupter, and a gear shift lever,

of an electrical switch controlling the passage of electrical current through said conductor and having an operating arm, and said last mentioned switch including a pivotally mounted part egageable with said operating arm to open and close the switch, and actuating means for the pivotally mounted part including means connected to and operable by, said lever.

10. In a motor vehicle, the combination with aninternal combustion engine having electrical conductors for transferring elec-- trical currents from an ignition switch to a and a gear shift lever, of an electrical switch controlling the passa of electrical current through said conductors and having an meansfor control 'ng said last mentioned switch includin pivotally mounted part engageable with said arm, and actuating means for said part including two reciprocating means, one being operable by the other, and the other being connected to said lever to beactuated thereby.

11. In a motor vehicle, the combination with an internal combustion engine having electrical conductors for transferring electrical currents from an ignition switch to a pnmarymterrupten'and a gear shift lever, of an electrical switchcontrolling' the passage of electrical current through said conoperating arm, and

ductors and having an operating arm, of a pivotally mounted part engageable with said arm, and actuating means for said pivotally mounted part including a rod mounted to reciprocate adjacent the pivotally mounted part, a collar on the rod engageable with the pivotally mounted part, and means connected to and operable by the lever to reciprocate the rod.

12. In a motor vehicle, the combination with an internal combustion engine having electrical conductors for transferring electrical currents from an ignition switch to a primary interrupter, and a gear shift lever, of an electrical switch controlling the passage of electrical currentthrough said conductors and having an operating arm, and two means for actuating said switch arm, one of said actuating means being connected to and operable by said lever when the latter is in any position other than neutral to close said last mentioned switch, and the other means being associated with said first mentioned means and operable automatically when said lever is in neutral position to render said first means inoperative and to open said last mentioned switch.

13. In a motor vehicle, the combination. with an internal combustion engine having electrical conductors for transferring electrical currents-from an ignition switch to a primary interrupter, and. a gear shift lever, of an electrical switch controlling the passage of electricalcurrent through said conductors and having an operating arm, a pivotally mounted part engageable with said arm, actuating means for said pivotally mounted part including a rod mounted to reciprocate adjacent the pivotally mounted part, a collar on the rod engageable with the pivotally mounted part, means connected to and operable by the lever for reciprocating the-rod, andmeans operable independently of said last mentioned means for reciprocating said rod.

14. In a motonvehicle, the combination with an internal combustion engine having electrical conductors for transferring electrical currents from a primary interrupter to an ignition switch, and agear shift lover, of an electrical switch connected to and controlling the passage of, electrical current through said conductors, and means connected to and operable by said lever for actuating said last mentioned switch.

15. In a motor vehicle, the combination with an internal combustion engine having electrical conductors for transferring" the electrical currents from an ignition switch lever, of an electrical switch controlling the passage of electrical current through said conductors and having an'operating arm, a pivotally mounted part engageable with said arm, actuating means for said pivotally mounted part including a rod mounted to reciprocate adjacent the pivotally mounted part, a collar on the rod engageable with the pivotally mounted part and three means for reciprocating said rod, two of said means being operable to move the rod in one direction, and the third means being operable to move the rod in the opposite direction.

16. In a motor vehicle, the combination with an internal combustion engine having electrical conductors for transferring the electrical currents from an ignition switch to a primary interrupter, and a gear shift lever, of an electrical switch controlling the passage of electrical current through said conductors and pivotally mounted part engageable with said arm, actuating means for said pivotally mounted part including a rod mounted to reciprocate adjacent the pivotally mounted part, a collar on the rod engageable with the pivotally mounted part and two means for reciprocating said rod, one being en ageable with the rod, and one being engagea le with the collar.

In testimony ture.

whereof I aflix my signa- ROY E. WING.

having an operating arm, a 

